Simplify the operation
Reduce (simplify) the fractions to their lowest terms equivalents:
- To reduce a fraction to the lowest terms equivalent: divide both the numerator and denominator by their greatest common factor, GCF.
The fraction: - 186/186
- 186/186 = - (186 ÷ 186)/(186 ÷ 186) = - 1/1 = - 1
The fraction: - 196/192
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 196 = 22 × 72
- 192 = 26 × 3
- Multiply all the common prime factors: if there are repeating prime factors we only take them once, and only the ones having the lowest exponent (the lowest powers).
- GCF (196; 192) = 22 = 4
- 196/192 = - (196 ÷ 4)/(192 ÷ 4) = - 49/48
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
- 196/192 = - (22 × 72)/(26 × 3) = - ((22 × 72) ÷ 22)/((26 × 3) ÷ 22) = - 49/48